Pint-Size Star of YouTube Cooking Video Stirs Up Sweet Success
Filed under: In The News, Funny Stuff
Zaylee Jean loves to watch other kids perform on YouTube. So it wasn't a stretch when the 3-year-old and her parents talked about making a video of the toddler starring in her own "Yippity Yo Cooking Show."
Now, more than 100,000 viewers have watched the energetic child do battle with a spatula and cookie dough, toss flour, demand milk and call her dad "Old Man" in demonstrating how to bake Grandma Wendy's Chocolate Chip Cookies.
"Zaylee Jean loves to help out when we cook, when we allow her to. We got the idea to make a video," her father tells ParentDish in a phone interview. "We said, 'We'll make a video sometime and you can make your own cooking show.' She got all excited."
(Although the family originally posted the video publicly, they requested their names not be used. "There is too much scary stuff out there and people can identify you too easily," the child's dad says. The video has now been removed from YouTube by the family.)
One weekend in January, 2010, shortly after Zaylee Jean's third birthday, her dad says he bought some chocolate chips and set up the video equipment. Before filming, the girl picked out her dress while her mom fixed her hair.
The main reason the family created the "Yippity Yo Cooking Show," the family tells ParentDish, was to have fun and to be able to easily share the video with friends and family -- without having to deal with capturing e-mail addresses to send out a link.
Watching the hits grow from 100 a day to more than 5,000, the couple suspects the popularity of the "Yippity Yo Cooking Show" is due to the fact that many parents can relate to the rambunctiousness of Zaylee Jean's love for chocolate. Mainly, the feedback has been positive, but there are some naysayers out there.
"People with children seem to get it. But people, especially on YouTube, people are going to make fun of you. Commenting with insults," Zaylee Jean's dad says, noting comments that say "we are exploiting our child and should be arrested for child endangerment. You let the comments roll off your back."
His wife of five years chooses not to read the comments, instead focusing on the fun their "very theatrical" daughter had in making the video.
Keeping in mind the attention span of a 3-year-old, the couple says it took about an hour-and-a-half to videotape Zaylee Jean preparing the cookies. Her father spent 20 hours editing the 10-minute piece together.
"It is a lot of editing," Zaylee Jean's mom says.
Zaylee Jean shows her personality in the video, singing her own made-up song, however, her father says she also repeated some of what her parents told her to say. For example, Zaylee Jean mentions Rachael Ray while preparing the batter.
"I don't know if she's really seen Rachael Ray -- maybe Gordon Ramsay," he says with a laugh. "Zaylee Jean's so good at repeating and parroting, but I don't think she has any idea who Rachael Ray is."
Zaylee Jean's parents say she enjoys cooking and during the interview the 3-year-old could be heard "cooking in her Fisher-Price kitchen." But while Zaylee Jean really does enjoy to "cook," her vocabulary is a little different in reality than what you hear in the video.
"We gave her permission to say 'Shut up, old man!' " her dad says, adding that Zaylee Jean has managed to slip that phrase into a couple conversations since the filming.
Zaylee Jean's father says making a video is a "great way" for parents to bond with their children and have fun with their kids, and it's something most parents can do, even if they want to keep it private.
"Kids love that creativity," he says. "I know I did when I was a kid."
Zaylee Jean's family has taped a second video and would like to keep the fun going to not disappoint friends, family and new YouTube fans.
However, fans of Grandma Wendy's recipes and Zaylee Jean's choco-love may be disappointed: Her next video involves birds.
Related: Opinion: 'Scarface School Play' Video Not a Big Effing Deal











ReaderComments (Page 2 of 21)
4-19-2010 @ 2:21PM
Jennifer said...I agree. Cute at 3 ? but the mouth and language she uses won't be cute when she graduates to stronger language after she realizes what her words mean and how they can be used to manipulate and abuse her parents. Tyrant in the making. Her words had to be bleeped. Why if she's so cute? Obviously, if her language was allowed to be heard without bleeping I'm sure the child protective services would be all over them. Maybe the CPS should consider paying them a visit and mandate they attend parenting classes. Yes, mom, you don't want to read these comments because you think you are above reproach for allowing your child to behave as she did and then air it. What about that comment, 'shut up old man'? And 'I'll break you'? 'Keep your mouth shut BOY???? Wow! And you parents think she's cute? Dad reprimands her for tapping the bowl, guess cause she might break it, yet allows the mouth output? Your priorities are half-aRse backwards.
4-19-2010 @ 8:44PM
Melly said...The ones calling this little girl rude are the ones coming across as rude. I can't believe some of these comments about a THREE year old child. She was obviously excited, having fun, and a bit sugared up. Cakediva, you say this child needs SPEECH therapy, yet you can't even spell it, and you're a school teacher?
4-19-2010 @ 6:51AM
Carla said...As a grandma to a 2,4,&6 year old, I think this video was FABULOUS !
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4-19-2010 @ 8:59AM
B said...I, too, loved this video and yes I am a grandmother. People need to lighten up. She is being a child and her parents are creating memories and a self confidant future young woman.
I wish more parents were this involved and in love with their children.
4-19-2010 @ 11:08AM
nestmission said...I am also the grandmother of 8 and not a ONE of my grandchildren would ever talk to their parents like that...how rude. Some of you may think this is cute now, but in 10 years you will be on a program about my 13 being out of control and I don't know how it happened.
4-19-2010 @ 11:39AM
Pat nagel said...Nothing cute about children talking like this to parents, other adults or other children. it is sad that parents think it is O.K. anytime to add this to their childs vocabulary.
4-19-2010 @ 10:30AM
Rose said...I agree- this was very cute & made me smile- I'm grateful for that-
4-19-2010 @ 12:09PM
Melissia said...I too am a grandmother. I thought this was cute to a point . I know this was scripted however, it was sending out a bad message to this child. I feel is was a little disrespectful. I know children can be hyper. I had 3 sons that are grown now. I taught them to respect others. We are teaching my grand children the same. I have a feeling that this child acts like this even off camera. She seems to very smart and maybe have a good future for acting, but the respect needs to be taught by the parents because, it could be a problem even in the future with any kind of career in acting or any job.
4-19-2010 @ 12:37PM
Eniko said...Carla, I agree with you...perhaps you have to be a grandmother to appreciate how adorable Zaylee is in her little cooking show. Three-year-olds are just out of their "terrible twos" and can appear to be bratty at times, but I'd rather have that than a child who is afraid of her parents (like I was as a tyke). I bet you're a great grandma!
4-19-2010 @ 2:19PM
jinmich said...Disgusting and obnoxious....for a little one to be encouraged to behavior is a sad commentary on our society.
4-19-2010 @ 2:24PM
susan said...i agree! you can tell that she is very creative and enjoying the attention. what a great way to have fun! as far as some of the negative comments...take it as it is..a moment in the present time! having 3 teenagers...im sure this has not scarred her..and my give her the confidence to be able to say no when she needs to! good job zaylee jean!
4-19-2010 @ 10:26PM
Abigail said...So you wouldn't mind your grandchildren disrespecting you like that? I thought that was awful and so dishonoring.
4-19-2010 @ 3:12PM
S said...Grandma, all children are cute. However, wise parents and grandparents should know that when trash goes into a child's brain, trash comes out a child's mouth, especially when it starts at home.
How many children this age have you seen on television using these words, especially when addressing their parents? Time should be spent on helping Zaylee learn to enunciate and to communicate respectfully. It was disappointing that even if scripted, their child was disrespectful. Although it was just one little phrase, and perhaps one time, it all starts with one time. May God inspire our society to understand that teaching values to our future generation starts at home. I wish Zaylee's parents wisdom in raising her upright.
4-19-2010 @ 6:55AM
Beth said...This girl's got a potty mouth (son of a biscuit, and shut up old man or, I'll break you for a 3 year old)???
Don't like the video, sorry.
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4-19-2010 @ 11:17AM
LINDA said...I'M WITH YOU. THING LIKE THIS ARE 'NOT' CUTE -------NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE. I RAISED 4 LOVELY CHILDREN,
SO THIS WAS NOT AN IDLE STATEMENT.
4-19-2010 @ 11:25AM
Diane Peagler said...PARENTS MAKE THEIR KIDS ACT TOO FRESH ,,AND THEN LAUGH ABOUT IT ?? THEY NEED PSYCOLOGICAL HELP!
4-19-2010 @ 7:06AM
Heather said...Don't you love when every parent thinks their kids are cute? This video is just annoying. The little girl is absolutely annoying. And obviously they didn't care about all the weirdos on cyber space or they wouldn't have publicly put this on youtube...
Reply
4-19-2010 @ 9:39AM
krista said...Your comment is annoying.
4-19-2010 @ 7:16AM
Mike said...She beats that salt and lard monger paula dean!
Take the humor from the show, no reason to comment on the parenting.
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4-19-2010 @ 7:21AM
MsMike said...There was nothing cute or funny or remotely amusing about this fresh mouthed little brat.